"Ano?!" sigaw ko.
My body froze, my eyes stared at him, my brain stopped – everything inside me had malfunctioned. Nanatili akong tinititigan siya, hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi nito. We had only started dating, and what? He wanted me to meet his parents already?! Hindi ako handa. Hindi.
He sighed, "I'm not forcing you, okay? It suddenly came to mind so I asked you."
Umiling ako, "Ayoko pa, Caden. Hindi pa 'ko handa. It's too early for this."
"I know. I just wanted to see how you'd react. Nagtataka lang ako kung bakit parang ayaw na ayaw mo? Your family knows me but mine doesn't even have any clue about the girl I love," he mumbled.
Hinaplos ko ang kamay niya at tinitigan siya, "Caden, this is not about how early or late I get to meet your parents. Introducing me as your girlfriend... is way too different from how my family got to know you. We just started dating. It's too early."
"Pero gusto mo namang dumating tayo sa ganoon, 'di ba? 'Yung makikilala ka ng pamilya ko?"
I smiled at him, "Of course. Just... not now, okay? Give me more time."
"Okay, I understand." Natahimik ito bago muling magsalita. "I'm sorry for rushing things. I didn't think things through."
"It's fine. Naiintindihan naman kita, Caden. Kailangan nating dumaan sa mga problema at marami pang iba para malaman mo kung gusto mo ba talaga akong makilala ng mga magulang mo. Dating and courtship are different things, you're aware of that, right? Iba na 'tong pinasok natin."
"Yes, I'm aware. I'll take full responsibility. You don't need to worry."
"Okay, then." I sighed before smiling at him like nothing ever happened. "Let's just enjoy this ride together. Pagod na 'ko at gusto kong magpahinga sa balikat mo."
"Come here," he said.
I scooted over to his side and rested my head on his shoulder. It stayed like that all throughout the ride but since Yasmine's apartment was quite close to the airport, we arrived shortly. Naabutan naming seryosong nag-uusap si Yasmine at Xavier sa labas ng sasakyan nito kaya hindi na kami nanggulo pa. Tumigil lang rin sila nang makita ang presensya namin.
"Hey, nandyan na pala kayo," Yasmine gave a small smile.
"You okay?" I mouthed to her but she didn't even budge a little.
"Aakyat na kami, ha? Kaya na namin 'to ni Bella," si Yasmine na nagsimula nang magbuhat ng mga gamit.
"I'll help," Caden insisted.
"No, it's fine. Kaya na namin 'to. Tara na, Bella," pamimilit ni Yasmine. I noticed how her mood changed so I eyed Caden saying I'll deal with this.
"'Wag ka nang magmarunong. Mabigat 'yan. Let us do this for you."
YOU ARE READING
Venomous Cure (Katipunan Series #1)
RomanceKATIPUNAN SERIES #1 UST Tourism's Isabella Rivera hasn't always had it easy. She's had to deal with a partner who sent her conflicting signals, unpredictability in her finances, and attempting to do well in school for the sake of her family. She was...
